Polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the Texas Senate District 2 race between Republican incumbent Bob Hall and Democrat Keenen Colbert. The Associated Press had not called the contest as of publication.

The AP, which compiles vote tallies and declares winners in thousands of races nationwide, reported that Texas began releasing votes during the 8 p.m. hour on election night. Official certification of results typically comes weeks later, according to the AP.

The Senate District 2 contest is among several contested races on the Rockwall County ballot, which also includes U.S. Senate, governor, U.S. House District 32 and Texas House District 33.

U.S. Senate, governor and national results

The AP called the Texas U.S. Senate race for Democrat James Talarico, who defeated Republican Ken Paxton. The AP declared Talarico the winner at 11:03 p.m. EST on Nov. 3. Talarico's victory marks the first time a Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, according to the AP.

The AP also called the Texas governor's race for Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who defeated Republican Greg Abbott. Hinojosa was among several Democrats who flipped GOP-held governor's offices, according to the AP.

Nationally, the AP reported that Democrats won control of both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Democrats flipped Senate seats in Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina, according to the AP. In the House, Democrats flipped more than two dozen districts, the AP reported.

Across Texas, more than 7.7 million votes were cast before Election Day, including more than 7.4 million during the two-week early voting period, according to KUT, citing the Texas Secretary of State's Office and the AP.

Local ballot details

Hall and Colbert are the two candidates listed for the state Senate seat on the Rockwall County sample ballot.

Early voting across Texas ran Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. Rockwall County locations included the County Courthouse Annex, Ernest Epps Education Center in Royse City, Fate City Hall and Heath City Hall.

Voters can follow local returns through the Rockwall County Elections Department at rockwallvotes.com.